Intercom Online......November 5,
1998

University to implement
two-day break in October 1999

University President Graham B. Spanier has approved a Faculty Senate
recommendation to include two class-free days in Penn State's academic calendar
in mid-October, starting in 1999.

The Senate endorsed the proposal at its Oct. 27 meeting. According to
the University administration's implementation plan, the two-day break will
be held on Monday and Tuesday in the eighth week of the fall semester. The
break will begin in 1999 on Oct. 11-12. In 2000, it will fall on Oct. 9-10;
in 2001, on Oct. 8-9; in 2002, on Oct. 14-15; and in 2003, on Oct. 13-14.

The proposal is intended to help reduce the stress levels of Penn State
students, especially first-year students, who over the years have been increasingly
vocal about the pressures of classes, study and often work (Intercom,
Oct. 22). National data also record sharply increased reports of stress
by students since the late 1960s.

Spanier said the change will benefit students and faculty and improve
learning and teaching at Penn State. Until now, Spanier said, "Penn
State has had one of the longest academic calendars in higher education
-- something we have taken pride in. Previously, our fall semester made
for an unusually long stretch before Thanksgiving -- about three full months
-- and many students and faculty found that this actually hampered learning
and teaching."

The inclusion of two class-free days on the calendar will not mean two
days off for Penn State faculty and staff. During the break, classes will
not be held, but faculty and staff will be on the job as usual.

The calendar change will not have a major impact on the number of hours
students spend in class. As part of the calendar change, the University
will start its academic calendar a day earlier than it currently does. Even
with the change, Penn State will still be tied for the No. 1 spot among
Big Ten universities in the number of class hours taught each semester.

Other calendar changes include:

Beginning the Thanksgiving break at 2:15 p.m. on the Wednesday before
Thanksgiving.

Retaining two study days before a five-day final exam period, as is
currently done.

Scheduling commencement ceremonies on Saturday at the end of finals
week.

Allowing modest exceptions to the academic calendar at non-University
Park locations, if made by the unit's chief academic officer and approved
by the University president.

In other action at its Oct. 27 meeting, the Senate accepted a report
recommending that all faculty -- starting on July 1, 1999 -- periodically
receive extended performance reviews. Current policy, HR-40, already calls
for annual reviews, but the revised guidelines will allow a look farther
back and farther ahead as part of the annual reviews.

The Senate also heard informational reports on implementation of the
University's new general education program (Intercom, June 18) and
the 1998-99 budget and budget planning for 1999-2000.

The Senate's next meeting will be held on Dec. 8, at 1:30 p.m., in Room
112 Kern Building on the University Park campus.